Compromise is a Beautiful Thing

 

 I am thrilled to let everyone know that my product stewardship bill, LD 1631, an environmental priority piece of legislation, and demonized by the business community, passed unanimously out of the Natural Resources Committee yesterday.   From the beginning of the process, I have reached out and worked with the business community to try to bring them on board, and through incremental changes, we did get close.  I never did get their support, but they did hold off on their opposition until the last week due to our continued negotiations.   When it was looking like a partisan vote in committee, I reached out to my more conservative committee members, over and over again, and we were able to make some changes to the bill yesterday that earned their vote.  Of course, if I had just my way, and the environmental community had their way, my original bill language would have been voted in, but I now know that it never would have happened.  Compromise, from both sides of the aisle, and by the environmental and business community, is what truly brings forth good public policy.  I am committed to continuing to seek ways to bring the conservative and progressive communities together in productive conversation, and have already started this conversation with the Maine State Chamber.  Let’s see what we can get accomplished together……